Frank b



(No Model.)

` P. B. TOWNSEND.

SASH IAS'JIIBTERx Patented June 9, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEieE..

FRANK B. TOW'NSEND, OF GENEVA, NEV YORK, ASSIGN OR OE ONE-HALF TO GEORGE HENRY MARTIN, OF SAME PLACE.

SASH-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,927, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed June 29, 1895. Serial No. 554,489. (No model.)

To (all wtont t may concern,.-

' Be it known that I, FRANK B. TowNsEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneva, in the county of Ont( rio and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Sash-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in sash-fasteners, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of devices of the character referred to with a view to producing one which may be applied with greater ease and facility to a window-sash, which will operate with greater freedom and reliability, and in which the clamping fingerlevers will yield longitudinally to compensate for any bend or deflection in the supportingrod, in connection with which they cooperate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient lock for engaging the clamping finger-levers and holding the same inoperative when required.

The invention also has other objects and advantages which will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts whereby advantages in point of simplicity and efficiency are attained, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and iinally embodied in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view through a suilicient portion of a window sash and casing to illustrate the application of the present improvements thereto. Fig. 2 is an inside end elevation of the sash-fastener, showing the locking-plate in engagement with the finger grip-levers.'

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same with the adjacent casing-plate removed. Fig. iis a detail perspective view of the inner casingplate. Fig. 5 is a similar'view of the outer casing-plate. Fig. G is a detail perspective view of the locking-plate. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the swinging-rod support and the retaining-plateby which said rod .is secured between the beads of the window-casing.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings,v l designates a Vpendent supporting-rod, which is disposed between the beads of the window-casing at one side and is provided at its upper extremity with an inwardly -projecting stud, which passes through a perforated retaining-plate 2, secured to the windmv-casing sc as to be flush with the inner surface thereof. This stud is headed upon the inside of the retaining-plate 2, which prevents the rod l from cscaping and at the same time permits said rod to swing forward upon the removal of the front bead or strip of the casing, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear.

The sash-fastener proper comprises a metal casing, which is seated in a mortise cnt in the inner adjacent face of that side of the window-sash next to the side of thc casin g tc which the rod l is secured, and within said casing is pivotally mounteda pair of fingerlevers 3, which are perforated at their outer en ds to permit the passage of the supportingrod l and project at their inner ends sufficiently inside of the sash-rail to admit of the same being grasped by the fingers and nianipulated for throwing the outer ends thereof out of engagement with said rod. These lingers are pivotall y mounted within the rear member 4 of the casing, the latter being formed from a singlesheet-metal blank comprising the rear plate proper of the casing i and an oppositely-disposed pair of integral flanges 5, projecting forwardly therefrom at right angles.

Gdesignates a forwardly-projecting crossflange, which is formed by cutting the central portion of the blank and bending the same forward at right angles, said flange extending vertically across between the anges 5, and being formed with a pair of horizontal slots 7, in which the finger-levers 3 are received and pivotally supported. By means of this construction it will be seen that the iingerlevers are adapted to move longitudinally and accommodate themselves to anybends or deilections in the supporting-rod l, at the same time admitting also of a Vslight variation in the location of said rod. Inside of the iiange 6 the finger-levers are formed with alining perforations for the reception of a pin S, which passes through both and is headed at each ICO' caping and becoming' lost.

10 designates a locking-plate, which constitutes one of the most important points of the present improvement. This plate is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and provided in the process of manufacture with end trunnions 11, which engage perfor-ations in the flanges 5 of the rear casing-plate, close up to the rear wall thereof. The plate 10 is rocked upon these trunnions by means of an outwardly-projectin g finger 12,havin g a pendent stop 12L for limiting the inward throw of the plate, and the latter is further provided with a pair of lugs or catches 13, adapted to engage with the iinger-levers when rocked forward and spaced apart a distance which will adapt them to hold the inner ends of the levers 3 sufficiently near together to throw the outer ends of said levers out of engagement with the supporting-rod. This lockingplate may be manipulated with perfect ease, is reliable in action, and will be found very useful and convenient when it is desired to remove a window-sash from the casing or where counterbalanceveights are employed.

The front casing-plate 14 is perforated in y alinement with a corresponding perforation in the inner casing-plate, through which is passed a retaining-screw, which serves to hold the entire fastener in place. This plate is also provided with inwardly-projecting spurs 16, which are adapted to rest between the flanges 5 of the inner plate, and is further provided with a centrally-located integral extension 17, which proj ects at right angles therefrom across the inner end of the casing and enters an aperture 18 in the inner casing-plate. This extension 17 lies between the finger-levers 3 and serves as a support for said levers in the act of lifting the window-sash, thus adding materially to the strength and durability of the fasten ing device as a whole.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that by pressing the finger-levers toward each other they will be disengaged from the supporting-rod l, thus allowing the sash to be lifted or lowered and retained at desired elevation upon releasing said fingers, the spiral spring interposed between said levers causing the perforated outer ends thereof to grip the supporting-bar in a manner that will be readily understood.

By reason of the particular construction of the casing it will be seen that the same may be seated entirely within a mortise in the front face of the window-sash, and by reason of said casing being flush therewith it is practicable to apply the 'securing device to either the upper or lower sash, there being no projection to interfere with the sashes passing each other.

In order to accommodate the supportingrod 1, the edge of the window-sash is vertically grooved and the perforated ends of the finger-levers are arranged in the plane of said groove in the manner illustrated. By mounting the finger-levers in the casing, as described, t-he same are capable of longitudinal movement and are adapted thereby to adjust themselves to any crooks or bends in the supporting-rod. A l

Then it is desired to remove a windowsash for any purpose, it will be apparent that after the beading has been taken out in the usual manner the sash may be swung outwardly, this being permitted by the pivotal connection of the supporting-rod 1 with the window-casing. It is now only necessary to manipulate the finger-levers, when the sash may be slid off the rod 1.

The device will thus be seen to possess numerous advantages over articles of a similar character heretofore devised.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved sash-fastener comprising a suitable casing, a cross-flange or web disposed within the same and provided with transverse slots or notches, a pair of fingerlevers extending through and slidably mounted and fulcrumed in said slots or notches and having their outer ends perforated to en-` gage a supporting-rod, a pin passing through alining perforations in said levers and headed at its extremities, and a spiral spring surrounding said pin and interposed between said levers, all combined and arranged, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a sash-fastener, a suitable casing, a pair of levers fulcrumed therein and perforated to engage a supporting-rod, a spring for holding said levers in engagement with the supporting-rod, and a locking-plate pivotally mounted within the casing at or near one end thereof and provided with shoulders or catches for engaging said levers and hold- -ing the same out of engagement with the supporting-rod, the same being combined and arranged, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. TOWNSEND.

Vitnesses:

HENRY OUDLow, WM. S. MOORE.

IIO 

